Charter School vs. Public School

To what extent do kids attending charter schools during elementary years receive a better education than children attending a public school? For the purpose of this blog, a charter school will be defined as a school that still receives public funding, doesn't charge tuition, and is held to the same state regulations that public schools are. To narrow down my research more I will be emphasizing the impacts on the schools in Colorado.

This question is often a topic of discussion for any parents getting ready to enroll their children in school. The decision of where your child will receive the best education early on is even more complicated now as we are given so many options from what school, to the type of school. Other questions I have include why do the test scores vary so much between these types of schools? What is the real reason the two types of schools exist? Is there a huge difference in the types of teachers that the schools employ? How does the funding for these types of school differ, or does that even really matter? Does one school differ from the other more because of how they discipline children? Do they differ so much because of the expectations placed on the students?

To explore this concern, I think I will be able to find some websites that are not biased to either type of school. I'm sure there are some government websites that don't skew the numbers. Since schools are also regulated by the state, I'm sure there are also some articles out there on how school funds are used (teachers salaries, programs etc.). Perhaps I will be able to see some differences in these numbers that may make sense on how it effects the students that go there. I also think charter schools have been around long enough now, to see if getting them in this type of school early on effects them as they continue to progress though out the remaining school years. If I dig deep enough perhaps I can find interviews, or personal blogs from students who attended both types of school, just to get a students perspective on it as well.
This question is important because there is not enough emphasis on our children's education. Parent's need to have all the information available to them to give their children every opportunity to excel at getting a good education. I believe starting with elementary school, kids are exposed to the expectations of homework, getting good grades, continuing education, and making friends they very well may have the rest of their lives. The real questions about the schools are not if you want to send your child to a school where they require uniforms or not, the real question is which type of school is going to get your child a head start on succeeding in life. The brutal truth is, not all schools are equal.